Numbering device for photo-printing machines



p 1934- J. L. BARBER I 1,972,618

NUHBERING DEVICE FOR PHOTOPRINTING MACHINES Filed Se t, 5, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ILIB r-ber: 29 Mfi wfififl/h 1 an-n... tornegs.

Sept. 4, 1934. J. L. BARBER NUMBERING DEVICE FOR PHOTOPRINTING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5. 1951 H S a w m 0- N v 7 Q 0. W m mb r I If 91/! 'lllv. o z fi? \ifi ww 3 I K 0d ll: fr m. m7 2 v an m L -Vo V m I Q wN 0% 0 0 8 I 0- i div 0. md E as nuy Patented Sept. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES. PATENT OFFICE.

NUMBERING DEVICE FOR-PHOTO-PRINITING V 3 MACHINES Joseph L. Barber, Greeley, Colo. Application September 5, 1931, Serial No. 561,399

15 Claims. (01. 10178) This invention relates to a device for numbering printing papers which are placed over negatives in a photo-printing machine during the photo-printing operations thereof. -In practice, variable numbers of photographs are made from each of negatives'inserted .in a photo-printing machine, printing papers being successively placed over a negative for repeated photo-printing operations, and it is desirable to mark the printing paper or printing papers placed over a negative with a distinctive number, figure, or character, to thus identify the resultantjphotograph or group of photographs made from each negative. i

. Aniobject of the present invention is to provide a numbering device adapted to'be associated with a photo-printing machine in such manner as to cause a printing paper situated in printing position over a negative in said ma- 20 chine to be stamped or impressed with a predetermined number, figure, or character when the platen of sa d machine is depressed or lowered to printing position.

A further object is to provide a numbering device adapted to be associated with the platen. of a photo-printing machine to be operative each time said platen is depressed or lowered to printing position to cause a printing paper situated over a negative in said machine to be stamped or impressed with a number, figure, or character which it was before predetermined-said printing paper should receive, whereby to identify the resultant photograph or group of photographs made from a negative and thus render said photograph or group of photographs more readily and easily distinguishable from' photographs made from all other negatives operated uponin the machine; 7

A still further object is to provide a numbering 7 ceeds, thein'veritio'n comprises the construction,

arrangement and combination of parts as now' to be fully described and as hereinafter to be specifically claimed, it being understood that the disclosure herein is merely illustrative and intended inno way ina limiting sense,-changes in details of construction and arrangement ofv parts being. permissible as long as within the spirit of. the invention and the scope of the claims which follow. v

In the accompanying drawings forming apart ofthis specification, 1

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a numbering device for photo-printing machines made according to the. invention and shown as when applied to use upon a photo-printing machine, the platen of said machine being disclosed in elevated or up position;

Fig. 2 is a view partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section of the numbering device and the portion of the photo-printing machine shown in Fig. 1, the platen of said machine being disclosed in depressed or down position; -Fig. 31s a transverse sectional view detailing the manner of mounting the supporting or printing arm for the numbering element upon the platen of the photo-printing machine; 7

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view detailing said numbering element and a manner of mounting the numbering element upon said supporting or printing arm; a

; .Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially as on line 55 in Fig. 2 "and 7 Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section substantially corresponding with the disclosure of Fig. 2, but showing the numbering device disconnected to thus be inoperative.

. With respect to the drawings and the numerals of reference thereon, 10 represents a fragment of a-photo-printing machine including the usual window llwith glass covering 12, and 13 designates the platen of said photo-printing machine which is pivotally supported, as at 14, upon a suitable bracket 15 conveniently attached to the top or table of said machine. In Fig. 1 the platen is shown in elevated or non-printing position, and in; Fig. 2 said platen is shown in depressed or printing position, means, designated generally at 16, mounted upon an upright 17 carried by said machine and pivotally attached to an intermediate portion of the platen as at 18, being for the purpose 10f manipulating said platen between its positions as in Figs. 1 and -2 in a manner not necessary to be herein set forth. Sufiice it to say, that-when a photograph is to be printed, the platen is automatically moved from non-printing position as in Fig. 1 to printing position as in Fig. 2,- directly over the. glass 12, to there remain for the predetermined interval a printing paper is to be exposed to the negative, and is; then antomatically returned'to non-printing position as in said Fig; 1." Numeral 19 represents-a negative placed over the glass 12 in position to be operated upon-,andZO denotes a printing paper which I 36 and opposite said printing paper.

a numbering element, such as 2-1, which is auto be understood that printing papers, such as 20, are successively laid over a negative, such as 19, for repeated photo-printing operations performed upon a negative to the production of a desired number of photographs from said negative, a single photo-printing operation being performed each time the platen is depressed or lowered to printing position in the manner as described.

The improved numbering device is assembled with the photo-printing machine to be operative each time the platen thereof is moved to printing position to cause a printing paper situated over a negative in said machineto be stamped,

or impressed with a number, figure, or character which it was before predetermined said printing" paper should receive, to thus furnish the printing paper with a mark for identifying theresultant photograph or group of photographs made from a negative, thereby making said photograph orv group of photographs readily and easily and unmistakably distinguishable from photographs printed from other negatives placed in the machine. I

A numbering element, denoted generally at 21, is suitably carried, as at 22, upon a supporting or printing arm 23 therefor, saidsupport'ing or printing arm having its end portion'which is spaced from said numbering element attached,

I as at'2'4,,to a U-shape bracket 25 the downturned flanges 26 of Which-are supported upon adouble headed pivot pin 27 and between spaced apart ears 28 extending upwardly from an intermediate portion of the platen 13, in which said spaced apart ears 28 said double headed pivot pin'27 is mounted. The supporting or printing arm 23 extends longitudinally of the platen 13, and the outer end portion of said supporting or printing arm, which carries the numbering element 21,'is disposed directly above a cut-out portion 29 through the adjacent end of said platen adapted to receive said numbering element. A shaped spring element includes a portion 30 coiled about the pivot pin 27, a portion 31 which resiliently engages underneath the lower surface of the end portion of the supporting or printing arm 23 at the side of the pivot pin 27opp'osite the numbering element 21, and a portion 32 which resiliently engages a plate 33 fastened down upon the platen between the spaced apart ears 28, as at 34, said shaped spring element normally urging said supporting or printing arm 23 in direction to cause the munbering element 21'to engage the printing paper 20, as will be more clear from Figs.' 2and'3.' 7 I The numbering element 21 may be of any construction suiting it to its purpose' As shown, said numbering element consists of a frame including a-lined rollers 35 at the upper end there of, a supporting plate 36 at'the lower end thereof, and separate sets of rubber bands 37, one for each roller 35, ridable over said rollers and said supporting plate, each cream rollers '35 being separately rotatable -'-and each of said rubber bands including a series of digits, numbers, fig-' ures,;or characters 38"thereonlf It will be apparent that the-rubber bands 37 can be manually adjusted to bring any desired number, ligure, or character to be stamped or'im pressed upon a printing paper 20 beneath-the supporting plate Obviously,

matically adjusted, could be substituted for the numbering element illustrated and described;

An inking roller 39 is rotatablysupported, as

, at 43, upon a carrying arm 41 for said inking roller, which carrying arm is longitudinally slidable along an upper portion of the platen in a guideway 42 in part supplied by the plate 33, as will be more clear from Fig. 3. The inking roller 39 is disposed in proximity to the numbering element 21, and the adjacent portion of the platen is suitably cut away as shown to provide clearance for said inking roller.-, The end portion of the inking. roller carrying arm 41 opposite the inking roller is pivotally and detachably connected, as at 43, to one end of an upwardly inclined link 44 arranged longitudinally of the platen in inclined relation thereto, the opposite end of which link is pivotally connected, as at 45,'to the upper end of a supporting post 46 at the side of the platen axis 14 opposite the numbering element 21, said post as disclosed being removably carried by the bracket 15 and extending upwardly therefrom. The inking roller carrying arm 41 has a cam 47 fixedly attached to its upper surface, which cam is adapted to be ridden by a roller 48 upon a small bracket 49 attachedto an intermediate portion of the supporting or printing arm 23 andextending downwardly therefrom.

The arrangement is such that when the platen is in elevated .or non-printinggposition, as shown in Fig. '1, the roller 48 is at distance from the axis to rest upon a high part of the cam 4'7 as disclosed in said Fig. 1. At this time the inking roller 39 is situated beneath the numbers, figures, or characters 38 adjacent thesupporting plate 36. When then theplatcn is depressed in the manner as already described, said roller 48 moves to a greater distance away from the axis 45, due to the elevation of said axis 45 above the axis 14 for the platen 13, to thus ride off of the cam 47 and cause the numbering element 21 to ride off of. the inking roller 39. Upon release of the supporting or printing arm 23 by the cam 47 and the concurrent release of the numbering element 21 by the V inking roller 39, the shaped spring element upon the pivot pin 27 causes the working face of said numbering element to engage the printing paper, as disclosed in Fig. 2, to thus stamp or impress the number, figure, or character then positioned beneath the supporting plate- 36 upon said printing paper, as will be clear. Thereafter, upon elevationof the platen to again move the-roller 48 closer to the axis 45, said roller 48 rides inwardly upon thecam 47 to elevate the numberingelement fromits position as in Fig.2 to its position as in Fig. land to cause the inking roller 39to wipe over the working face of the numbering, element 21, it being apparent that said inking roller will be partially rotated both when it is, coming into. engagement with the numbered I element and when it is being released therefrom,

to thus-cause the whole surface of the inking roller to in time be utilized in the supplying of inking 'or writing fluid to the numbers, figures, or characters of said numbering element. Desir ably, when the platen is in elevated. or' nonprinting'position and the'parts are situated as in Fig;, 1; the number, figure, or character of the numbering elementwhich is in position for printing rests directly upon'said inking roller as disclosed in said Fig. 1, the inner end of the cam 4'7 being slightly relieved to the accomplishment of thisend. v p

It may be desirable in some instances toaccomplish printing operations ina photo-printing machine with the numbering device assembled inking roller carrying arm 41 from the link 44 at the detachable pivot 43, to turn said link on its axis to the position shown in Fig. 6, and to push said carrying arm 41 outwardly so that the cam 47 rides beyond theroller l8 and the inking roller 39 rides'under the numbering element 21 to position where said numbering element is supported in elevated position-upon an inner portion of said inking roller in aboutthe manner as shown in saidFig. 6. It will be evident that the shaped spring element upon the pivot pin 2"! will now exert its force, through the'instrumentality of the numbering element, upon the inking roller to firmly retain the part-sin the position as disclosed in Fig.6 and render-the numbering device inoperative'to stamp or impress printing papers as longas the link a l and the inking roller carrying arm 41 remain disconnected. rt

it will be apparent that-applicant has produced a numbering device for photo-printing machines consisting of very few parts all quite simply constructed. -The eificierlcyof the device has been amply proven in actual practice, and said device has been found to be very accurate and useful. t is to be observed that should the hand of an operator become accidentally caught under the numbering element of the device, no actual damage can be done because of the fact that said numbering element is spring actuated.

time theplaten is moved from non-printing to printing position, the supporting or printing arm 23 will be gently released to the spring action which accomplishesthe printing, and all of the stampings and impressions made upon the printing papers will be uniform and clear for the reason that the actual printing is accomplished by said spring action, which, naturally, is precisely the same each time said platenis depressed. t What I claim is: I

l. The combination with a photo-printing machine including a pivotally supported platen swingable to printing and ncn printing positions relatively to a printing paper arranged over a negative situated in printing position in said machine, of an element for placing an identifying mark upon said printing paper, a carrying arm for said element pivotally mounted upon said platen, a roller supported by said carrying arm, a member longitudinally slidable along said platen and carrying a cam adapted to engage said roller when said platen is swung from printing to non-printing position to swing said arm upon its axis in direction away from said printing paper,

resilient means operative upon said carrying arm when said platen is swung from non-printing to printing position to swing said arm upon its axis in direction toward said printing paper, to thus cause said element to engage said printing paper, a marking fluid supplying roller attached to member slidable along said platen adapted to engage said element when said platen is in non-printing position and to be clear of said element when platen is in printing position.

2. The combination as specified claim 1, a link having one of its ends'pivoted to said slidable member, said link extending longitudinally of said platen in inclined relation thereto, and a pivotal support for the other end of said link at the side of the axis of said platen opposite said element and above the elevation of said platen axis. 3. The combination as specified in clainrl, a

link detachably pivoted to said slidable member and extending longitudinally of said platen in inclined relation thereto, and a pivotal support for said link'at the side of the axis of said platen oppositesaid element and above the elevation of saidplaten axis. ,4. The combination with a photo-printing machine including a platen movable about an axis to printing'and non-printing positions relatively to a printing paper arranged over a negative situated. in printing position in said inachineQof a device for placing an identifying mark upon said printing paper, an arm carrying said device and movable about an axis parallel to said. axis; a cam on said platen, means on said arm for engaging saidcam operative when the platen is moved from printing to non-printing position for moving said element to a receded position, resilient ;means operative to move said elementto position t c-engage said printing paper'when said platen is moved from non-printing to printing position, and marking iluid supplying means adapted to engage said element when in receded position andto be clear thereof when in engagement' with said printing paper; I

' 5. The combination with a photo-printing machine including a platen movable about an axis to printing and non-printing positions relatively to a printing paper arranged over a negative situated in printing position in said machine, of an element for placing an identifying 'rnarkupon said pr nting paper,- means carrying said element swingable about an axis parallel to said axis including a resilient member, and a cam on said platen for engaging said carrying meansfor tensioning said resilient member when said platen is moved from printing to non-printing position for moving said element to a receded position, said resilient member being adapted to'operate to move said element to position engaging said printing paper when said platen is'moved from non-printing to printing position. 6. The combination with a photo-printing machine including a platen movable about an axis to printing and non-printing positions relatively to a printing paper arranged over a negative situated in printing position in said machine, of a device for placing an identifying mark upon said printing paper, an arm carrying said device and swingable about an axis parallel to said axis, re-

silient means operative upon said carrying means to move said device to engaging relation with said printing paper when said platen is moved from non-printing to printing position, and means carried by said platen operative upon said arm and against the action of said resilient means when said platen is moved from printing to non-printing position for moving said device to a receded position.

'7. The combination with a photo-printing machine including a platen movable about an axis to printing and non-printing positions relatively to a printing paper arranged over a negative situated in printing position in said machine, of a device for placing an identifying mark upon said printing paper, resilient means operative upon said device to cause the same to engage said printing paper when said platen is moved from non-printing to printing position, an arm carrying said device and swingable about an axis parallel to said axis and means on said platen operative upon said element and against the action of said resilient means when said platen is moved from printing to non-printing position for moving said element to a receded position.

8. A photo-printing machine having in combination, a platen movable to printing and nonprinting positions for engaging a print, a device for placing an identifying mark upon said print, means operative to move said device to position to engage said print when said platen is moved to printing position, a cam on said platen, an arm mounted on said platen and carrying said device having means engaging said cam, and means for movingsaid cam as said platen is swung to nonprinting position to cause the same to engage said last mentioned means and move said device toinoperative position. v

9. A photo-printing machine having in combination, a platen swingable about an axis to and from printing position to engage a print, an arm carried by said platen and pivoted to swing about an axis parallel to said axis, a numbering device carried by said arm, a cam carried by said platen, and means on said arm engaged by said cam to move said device to inoperative position.

10. A photo-printing machine having in combination, a platen swingable about an axis to and from printing position adapted to engage a print, an arm pivotally mounted on said platen to swing about an axis parallel to said axis, a numbering device carried by said arm, means tending to swing said numbering device to operative position to engage said print, a cam on said platen and movable relatively thereto, and means on said arm engaged by said cam to move said numbering device to inoperative position.

11. A photo-printingmachine having in combination, a platen swingable to printing position to engage a print and upwardly to inoperative position, an arm pivotally mounted on said platen, a numbering device carried by said arm for engaging a print, a slide on said platen, a cam on said slide, said arm having means engageable by said cam, a stationary member, and means connecting said slide and stationary member to move said slide to cause engagement of said cam and last mentioned means to move said numbering device to inoperative position.

12. A photo-printing machine having in combination, a platen movable to and from printing position for engaging a print, a numbering device for numbering said print, an arm pivotally mounted on said platen carrying said device, means for moving said numbering device to operative position to engage a print, a slide mounted on said platen, a cam carried by said slide for engaging said armand moving said numbering device to inoperative position, means for moving said slide as said-platen is swung and an inking roller carried by said slide adapted to engage said numbering device.

13. A photo-printing machine having in combination, a platen swingable to and from printing position for engaging a print, an arm swingably mounted adjacent one end on a pivot on said platen, a numbering device carried by said arm adjacent its other end, a spring engaging said arm and platen adjacent said pivot to move said numbering device to operative position, a roller on said arm intermediate said device and pivot, a slide mounted on said platen, a cam carried on said slide, and means for moving said slide to cause engaging of said cam and roller to swing said arm and numbering device to inoperative position as said platen moves to inoperative position.

14. A photo-printing machine havin n combination, a platen movable to and from printing position for engaging a print, an arm pivoted on said platen, a numbering device carried adjacent one end of said arm, resilient means urging said arm and numbering device to operative position to engage a print, a member slidable on said platen, means carried by said member for engaging said arm to move said arm and numbering device to inoperative position, and means independent of said platen connected to said slide for moving the same as said platen is moved.

15. The structure set forth in claim 14, said 115 slide having an inking roller carried thereon over which said numbering device moves.

JOSEPH L. BARBER. 

